Sake in London? It’s an education – drinks review
Half a decade ago one could find Japanese Sake in London. Yes, of course one could. The ordering of such a beverage would usually elicit...
Winter Cocktails by Maria del Mar Sacasa – review
Cocktails! We tend to have a vision of summer evenings, flowery dresses, sipping colourful libations in some place exotic. But for those of us who...
The Saké Handbook by John Gauntner – review
Saké has become more popular than ever in both restaurants and bars. One can find good quality saké by the bottle and made into cocktails,...
Vila Vita Parc and Herdade dos Grous – travel review
Vila Vita Parc enchants the guest with its exotic gardens; it invigorates the visitor with its pools and spa; it tempts with its food and...
Port and the Douro – travel review
I would love to tell my readers that I am an expert on that full and iconic beverage but until recently Port was that festive...
Visiting and sharing Japan – travel review
Planning a trip to Asia? I can almost guarantee that Japan isn’t first on most people’s destination list, if indeed it is a part of...
Taylor’s Port and Fladgate Hospitality – travel review
Port is enjoying something of a revival with the addition of both white and pink varieties to its classic styles. It’s a wine with a...
The Yeatman Hotel and the first couple of Port – hotel review
The Yeatman Hotel doesn’t sound, to the ill-informed, a particularly Portuguese name for a hotel. One would more readily expect a name like “Henry the...
The Perfect Drink for Every Occasion by Duane Swierczynski – review
Well the title The Perfect Drink for Every Occasion encouraged me to think that this was going to be a rather serious tome, probably penned...
Whisky & Cheese Matching at the Athenaeum – bar review
This was our first visit to this most charming of central London hotels. Its location is hard to beat, being on Piccadilly and between Green...
500 Beers by Zak Avery – review
Yes, dear reader, another in the 500 series from Apple Press. I make no apology for its inclusion in this cookbook review journal because they...
500 Red Wines and 500 White Wines – reviews
Life was easier back then. A bottle of sherry for Christmas or when the vicar was coming to tea, some brown ale for dad on...
World Whisky by Charles Maclean – review
Who knew? There are many hundreds of whiskies. I had suspected that there might be perhaps a hundred from small distilleries in Scotland and Ireland...
Guinness by Paul Hartley – review
Paul Hartley has penned several brand cookbooks including the Lyles Golden Syrup Cookbook and the HP Sauce Cookbook (both reviewed on this site), Marmite Cookbook...
The Connoisseur’s Guide to Whisky by Helen Arthur – review
Wine, and French wine in particular, has a high profile but what of the Water of Life? The Connoisseur’s Guide to Whisky tells the story...
500 Cocktails by Wendy Sweetser – review
Apple Press has a series of books and all are called 500 something or other. They are great value, chunky books and this one, 500...
In Praise of Poteen by John McGuffin – review
What exactly is Poteen or Poitín? If you are Irish then you’ll already know. If you are American then you will recognise the same beverage...
Cooking with Booze by Ryan Jennings – review
You’ve gotta love a book with a title like that! We are told that drinking isn’t good for us so Cooking with Booze presents us...
The Wine and Food Lover’s Guide to Portugal – review
Charles Metcalfe and Kathryn McWhirter are a formidable team. I know of Charles from his numerous appearances on food-related shows like Good Food Live on...
Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine – interview
Jancis Robinson is instantly recognisable as the wine expert with the soft voice….and glasses. She became popular when presenting The Wine Programme and later Jancis...